Judge Marilyn Castle of the 15th Judicial District Court today made official her candidacy for the Louisiana Supreme Court. She is seeking the District 3 seat, which includes the parishes of Acadia, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry and Vermilion.

The seat is currently held by Supreme Court Justice Jeannette Theriot Knoll, who is nearing the end of her second 10-year term and has reached the mandatory retirement age. The election is Nov. 8.

“Our judicial system was founded upon the principles of fairness and impartiality. Cases must be decided based upon the law and evidence, not sympathy, prejudice or personal relationships. These are the standards which have guided me as a district court judge,” Castle, who has served as a district court judge for the past 17 years, said in announcing her candidacy. “I am running based upon my reputation and record, not campaign promises. I hope the voters will examine my record, find that it merits their support and will elect me, as an experienced, principled leader.”

After completing her undergraduate degree at LSU, Castle went on receive her juris doctorate from LSU School of Law. She was an assistant district attorney and spent 20 years in private practice focusing on commercial litigation, having handled more than 100 cases before the Louisiana Supreme Court. Castle became the first woman to serve as president of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association.

Castle has twice been selected to serve as the chief judge for the 15th Judicial District Court and was recently named 2016 president of the Louisiana District Judges Association.

In 2008 Castle received ABiz’s Women Who Mean Business award. She is a founding board member for the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic and serves on the Lafayette Parish Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee.

Earlier this month, Third Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Jimmy Genovese of St. Landry Parish announced his candidacy for the District 3 seat. Both Castle and Genovese are Republicans; retiring Justice Knoll is a Democratic.